Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hi, it's been a little more than two years since I have posted an entry to my blog. I decided to blog today because I need an output about something. As the title says, this entry is about my Dongguk University Grades. I just viewed them few minutes ago and I gelt the urge to explain myself why I received those grades. And no, I am not ranting nor complaining about it. In fact, I am very well satisfied with my grades. So let me start by giving a summary of the grades I received.
Strategic Management: A+
International Business: A0
Organizational Behavior: A+
Global Operations Strategy: A0
Project Management: A0
Strategic Management:
To be honest, I am expecting no less than A+ in this subject. It is not to brag, but it's just that I felt that all my outputs were really excellent. Moreover, I have this feeling that the professor really like me. I was able to answer her exams well and my participation in class is good, not excellent, because I don't usually recite especially when she does not call me. However, my reports in her class were mostly excellently done. Also, I must add that this subject is my favorite among the five I took. Many might disagree with me, but I really like this subject.
International Business:
This subject is also one of the best I took. The teacher is really great and very knowledgeable in her profession. Not to mention kind since she always brings snacks in class. Alright, moving on to my final grade, I think the reason why I dis not receive the full mark (a+) is because I did not recite that often in her class. Because in this class, participation meant extra credit. I did not remember a moment in her class wherein I actually said something voluntarily, meaning without her actually calling me to recite. Though my exams in this subject just have a few mistakes, they're not enough. Primarily because there are persons that actually gets them perfect! One mistake in her exams really means a lot. Another reason that I could think of is my group projects. I really have a crappy group in this course. Crappy in a way that the group lack cooperation and I felt that the group members are satisfied with a mediocre work! Though they are nice persons, it's just that we lack cohesion as a group making our outputs not so competitive in comparison with the other groups in class.
Organizational Behavior:
If I have a grade that I did not expect, it would be this. Honestly, I never expected, even in my dreams, that I can get A+ in this subject. My tests, which is a major part of our grade, aren't that good. My case reports were not perfect. And in general, most of the criteria for the final grade is very subjective. The professor have a huge power to higher or lower our grades since most of the activities were also subjective themselves. However, I think the reason why I got A+ in this subject is because of the grading system of Dongguk University. They follow a ranking system, and not an absolute scale in terms of grading the students. So even if a student only get a passing mark, as long as he is the highest in the class, he would still get an A+. Thanks to this system and I got an A+!
Global Operations Strategy:
The grade I received in this subject also surprised me. I thought the highest grade I could get is only B+ or something, primarily because of the ranking grading system as mentioned above. Recitation/participation is 40% of the grading criteria in this subject, and obviously, I am not that guy who is so participative in class. So, I am actually quite nervous in this subject. I am actually worried that this is the only course that I would not get an A+/A0. But to my surprise I got A0. Maybe because the professor knew that I am a foreign student so he's more considerate. Or another reason could be is the remaining 60% of the grading system. These are composed of mostly group activities. And in this class, I really have great group mates, but not as awesome as my group mates on Strategic Management. Going back,our group activities received good marks in this class. Though there was a time where we only got B and a B+. However the rest were A+. I was really thankful with my group since if it was not for them, I could have not received A0 in this class.
Project Management:
Honestly, before I took the final exam in this class, I am expecting myself to receive A+, but that all changed after the finals. I literally messed it up! I have completely wrong answers for around 3 out of 5 questions in the exam. Good thing is that my midterm exam was good, and the professor is very generous when it comes to giving marks, so I guess I received partial points to those questions I literally failed to answer. I think the reason I flunked the final exam is because it the last finals I have to take, and I also became so lax because of the mark I got from the midterm exam. But when I was taking the final exam, I knew from that moment that my A+ vanished. I was very disappointed with myself, and this was probably my biggest academic regret in my Korean Experience. And this is the reason that urged me to write a blog. I need an output with the outburst of emotion inside my chest. But I think I am still satisfied with what I got, I just felt that I could hav done better. But the damaged has been done, and mourning with this would not change my grade into A+. I just have to accept what I got.
After writing this blog entry I felt liberated. I do not care if someone might be able to read this. But for me, what's important is that I was able to express what I needed to for my own sanity and peace of mind. In general, I am very much satisfied with the grades I received and I really felt that it reflected very well my performance in Dongguk University. I could not ask for more and I am thankful of what I received from my professors.
Labels: Donggul University, Grades, korea, school, thoughts